Vehicle-wheel.



J. J. FAHRNEY.

VEHICLE WHEEL. APPLICATION rum 00T. 4. 1911.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J'. FAHRNEY, 0F TIMBERVILLE, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD T0 JOHN P, BURKE, 0F HARRISON BURG, VIRGINIA, AND ONE-SIXTH T0 JOHN T. HELBERT AND UNE-SIXTH TO FRANK H. DRIVER, HOT H 0F TIMBERVILLE, VIRGINIA.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, Jol-1N J. FAHRNEY, a citizen of the United States, residin at l`imberrille, in the county of Rocking am and State of Virginia, have invented a new andl useful Vehic e-W heel, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in vehicle wheels, and is designed to provide a means whereby the s )okes may at all times be kept tightl lodge in the h ub.

In accordance with tie present invention there is provided a hub member and spokes so arranged that when the latter are laced in'pesition in the hub they may be rawn foreiblv inward toward the axis of rotation to stiiilen the wheel and take u an looseness which may develop after t e w eel has been in use for a time.

Moreover, a further pur ose of the invention is to provide a slmp e form of wheel not liable to get out of order, but easily repaired when injuredv or worn, and which will be light but still strong enou h to withstand all of the strains to wliici a vehicle wheel sach as used agen an automobile may be called upon to wit stand.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a art of this specification, with the understan ing, however, that while in the drawin s there are shown practical embodiments o the invention, it is susceptible of other practical embodiments and ltherefore is not limited to any exact conformity with the structures therein shown.

In the drawings :-Figure l is an elevation willi parts in section and broken away of a portion of a vehicle wheel constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fi". 3 is an inner face view of a hub section.

lieferring to the drawings, there are shown spokes 1, each of which may be made of metal and is hollow for the greater portion of the len th, as indicated at 2, while at the tenon en each spoke may be laterally extended, as indicated at 3, and then continued in segmental form, as indicated at 4, the segmental portion 4 havin a series of ribs 5 on cach slde preferably o V-sha e and described about a center substantie ly coinci- Bpeoication of Letters Patent.

Application med Ootober 4, 1911.

Patented Feb. 1 '7, 191 1t.

serial No. 652,873.

dent with the center of the wheel when the parts are all assembled. The tenon portions of the spokes are confined between pluies ti of substantially annular form having their central portions extended axially to form hubs 7. That face of each plate, G toward the tenon portions of the spokes is foi-med with circular grooves 8 of V-shape conformA ing to the ribs 5, while each plate (3 is also provided with passages 9 designed to be traversed by bolts 10.

When the wheel is assembled, the tenon or inner ends of the spokes are brought toether, so that the corresponding ribs 5 are 1n substantially circular alinement and the meeting walls of the tenons are cut away in the form of elongated recesses l1 conforming substantially to the holes 9 and designed for the passage of the bolts 10.

When the meeting edges of the tenons of the spokes are brought together and the plates 6 are a plied, the outstanding edges or crowns of tie ribs 5 and the inset edges or valleys of the grooves 8 do not match, wherefore there is exerted upon the tenons a wed ing action tending to move the spokes toward the axis of rotatlon of the wheel, but before the ribs 5 are fully seated in the grooves 8 the meeting edges of the spokes ave been brought into contact and the parts are all firmly locked together, but should there develop any looseness of the parts the tightening of the bolts 10 will tend to bring the spokes all once more into firm engagement by the further movement of the rihs 5 into the grooves 8.

The outer ends of the spokes are connected to rings or bars 13, while at an intermediate point they pass throuefh other rings or bn rs 17 so that when the liub is drawn together the indrawing tendency upon the spokes tends to stiil'en the wheel by the resistance to this indrawing tendency ollercd by the rings or bars.

What is claimed is 1. In a wheel, a hub and spokes, the huh heilig formed of like members each irovided with a plate ortion extending riu ially of the correspon ing ends of the spokes and being provided with a series of circular con- Centric grooves on the face toward the spokes, and the inner ends of the spokes bein formed with a series of concentric eircu ar ribs matching the grooves in the plates, the spokes at their inner ends being related one to the other to prevent complete seating of the ribs in the grooves when the plates are forced into embracing relation to the hub ends of the spokes.

2. In a wheel, a hub and spokes, the hub being formed of like members each rovided with a plate ortion extending radially of the correspon ing ends of the spokes and being provided with a series of circular concentric grooves on the face toward the spokes, and the inner ends of the spokes beino formed with a series of concentric circular ribs matching the grooves in the plates the spokes at their inner ends being relate one to the other to prevent com lete seating of the ribs in the grooves when t 1e plates are forced into embracing relation to the hub ends of the spokes, the spokes at their outer ends having connecting means extending between them and resistant to movements of the spokes toward the axis of rotation.

3. In a vehicle wheel a series of spokes each having a tenon end of segmental form with op osite faces each provided with a series ci) concentric curved ribs and hub plates applicable to opposite sides of the tenon ends of the spokes and each provided with a series of concentric curved grooves adapted to receive the ribs of the spokes when the wheel is assembled, the tenon ends of the spokes being shalped to engage atthe meeting edves, while t e ribs are ut partially seated in the rooves.

4. In a vehicle wieel, a series of spokes each having the hub end provided on opposite faces with concentric curved ribs, and a hub member composed of plates each provided with a central hub portion and with concentric curved grooves in one face matching the ribs of the corresponding faces of the spokes, the ribs, grooves and corresponding ends of the spokes being related to prevent full seating of the ribs in the grooves when the spokes are brought into contact.

5. In a vehicle wheel a series of spokes each having the hub enc provided on opposite faces with concentric curved ribs, and a hub member composed of plates each provided with a central hub portion and with concentric curved grooves in one face matching the ribs of the corresponding faces o't the spokes, the ribs, grooves and corresponding ends of the spokes being related to prevent full seating of the ribs in the grooves when the spokes are brought into contact, and the spokes at the meeting edges being provided with radiallyv elongated matching recesses, and fastening devices extending through the hub members and through the. matching portions of the recesses at the meeting edges of the spokes.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature 1n the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN J. FAHRNEY.

Witnesses:

WELTY B. FArmNnY, GEO. F. BULL.

Gopin'o! thi! pltent may be obtained tor ave cent each, by addressing the Commissioner et Patents. Washington, D. 0." 

